LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Artificial intelligence is becoming more and more a part of everyday society. However, it can be dangerous if not used responsibly.
As part of National News Literacy Week, Channel 13 went to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas to hear from a couple of local experts about the use of AI today and in the future.
SCARY SUBJECT
"Honestly, it's a very scary subject," said Franchesca Ramirez, a UNLV marketing and journalism student.
She sees the potential for using artificial intelligence in deceptive ways.
"There's a lot of talk about copyright, plagiarism and how AI isn't always giving you real information. Sometimes it can give you misinformation," Ramirez said.
Artificial images or videos also known as deepfakes have been circulating on social media. They look and sound all too real, but they're software generated.
There are currently no federal regulations on deepfakes but lawmakers are working on legislation to regulate them.
Still, they are a regular occurrence these days, often deceiving the public and sometimes the news media. Ramirez feels it's the responsibility of every journalist to make sure what they're reporting is AI-free.
FACT CHECK
"You need to fact check everything. You need to have multiple sources, primary sources, secondary sources," Ramirez said.
Otherwise, she feels we could see more potential harm on a national and even global level.
"We're at the start of AI. We haven't even reached what its true potential could be and it's scary to think about the future," Ramirez said.
"We need to think of AI as a tool and it's not about the tool. It's how we use the tool," said Dr. Aya Shata, an Assistant Professor of Digital Media at Hank Greenspun School of Journalism & Media Studies.
She is currently researching the uses of Artificial Intelligence. She believes AI, or more specifically Generative AI, which can independently create new content, can lead to better journalism.
"It's offering new outputs. It's like talking to you," Shata said.
TALKING TO SOFTWARE
"Ask it a question, replies back to me and then ask another question. It's like we're making a conversation, a dialogue," Shata said. "This is what I think scares people and feel like, Oh wow. I'm talking to software."
She said it's important for journalists or any other user to approach the use of AI carefully.
"Going back to the idea AI consumes the data we feed. Since this data is already biased, the algorithm that actually generates the output would also be biased," Shata said.
So, she said it's crucial to verify and validate story research and hear directly from actual experts.
Otherwise, there's a great risk fake AI-generated stories could be broadcast, published or posted if proper safeguards are not used.
"Unfortunately, it contributes to a lot of misinformation, especially with fake news, deep fakes. We have the elections coming up. So, we're going to see a lot of that unfortunately," Shata said.
That's why she said it's important for students to learn, now, about the ethical ways of using AI.
"For example, in my class, I try to encourage them to use it," Shata said.
COLLECTING DATA
"It's very good at collecting data, summarizing that data. So, it kind of offers a starting point," Shata explained. "This is where you start and then, the students continue the work developing maybe primary research or writing a news article."
Ramirez agrees and said now is the time to learn to understand AI as it becomes more and more ingrained into daily life.
"I think if people learn how to use it responsibly, it all comes down to the people using it. It doesn't come down to AI itself. It comes down to the people that are going to be using that AI for either good or bad," Ramirez said.
